Best Crops to Grow for a Sustainable and Profitable Farm
- Joshua Brock
- Feb 24
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 24
For many of us who farm, and most especially for those who may just be starting out, the term "sustainability" can feel incredibly vague and ambiguous. We ask questions like: Will these crops actually sell? Will they be healthy, not just for people but for my land? Can the farm pay its bills by farming these types of crops sustainably?
In the end, the good news is that with proper research and preparation, sustainability and profitability are not different ends of a spectrum. In fact, many of the most resilient farms today and yesteryear are those built around crops that not only meet strong customer demand but also regenerate the soil while delivering reliable long-term income streams. The key is choosing crops that fit your land and equipment capabilities, your market, and your goals, and not simply chasing the latest fads or trends.
For this article, we took the opportunity to research the best crop categories for building a sustainable farm and livelihood, and we were sure to include practical insights into why they work and how farmers like you are making them profitable. Let's take a look at the topics we'll dive into:
Understanding "Sustainable" Beyond Just the Buzzword
Before we dive too far in, we thought it most important to define what we mean by the term "sustainable". Q: What does sustainability look like on a small farm?
A: Here are 4 ways that you can tell if your farm will be sustainable over time.
Land and Soil Health: Soil health can be achieved through a combination of reduced disturbance, such as no or low-till, organic matter build-up, or nitrogen fixation through cover cropping, and finding a balance between production and rest.
Sales Health: Market demand is present, ideally via multiple sales channels
Farm Economic Resiliance: Accounting for all inputs and expenses, inputs are manageable, and there are consistent margins over time, keeping your farm ledger in the black
Farm Work: Outside labor is available (if needed), especially for smaller or family-run farms
Now, we are not saying that, by these criteria, a crop is "sustainable" if it meets all categories, as most won't, but the more boxes you check, the more durable your farm becomes over time.
Veggies: High Returns on Small Acreage
Vegetable production remains one of the most tried and true paths to profitability, especially for small to mid-sized farms. Crops like salad greens, carrots, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and peppers, to name just a few, have traditionally generated significant revenue per acre when properly planned and managed.
Crops with High Returns
Salad Greens (fast growing)
Lettuce
Arugula
Carrots
Onions
Garlic
Tomatoes
Peppers
Root vegetables (for the winter months)
Fast-growing greens such as lettuce and arugula allow multiple harvests per season, extending cash flow. Root and storage crops extend sales into the Winter months. From a sustainability standpoint, vegetables perform well in diversified rotations, cover cropping, and low-tillage practices. The demand from consumers for fresh, local produce continues to grow, most especially through farmers' markets, CSAs, local farm stands, and regional wholesalers.
The biggest challenge facing farms with vegetable operations is the labor, both the costs and the manual work involved. Vegetables require hands-on management, but for farms willing to invest in proper planning and the systems involved, the returns can often justify the effort.
Perennial Fruits and Berries: Long-Term Sustainability
Perennial crops such as apples, pears, blackberries, raspberries, and hops offer a different kind of sustainability: one rooted in permanence.
Perennial Fruits and Berries to grow
Apples
Pears
Blackberries
Raspberries
Blueberries
Hops
Once established, these crops reduce soil disturbance, support pollinators, and provide consistent, or often increasing, yields year after year. On the financial front, perennials require patience. Upfront costs during the establishment phase are higher, and meaningful harvests often come a few seasons later while the plants mature. However, once fully established and in full production, these crops can often command premium prices and benefit from strong customer loyalty.
For instance, berries can strike a balance between nutrition and profitability. These little fellas are highly marketable, nutrient-dense, and can be integrated into fresh sales, value-added products like jams or jellies, as well as agritourism endeavors like "pick-your-own". For those farms thinking really long-term, especially those with multigenerational aspirations, perennials can really anchor a resilient farm!
Grains and Legumes: Soil, Scale, Stability
While commodity grain farming (corn, wheat, soybeans, rice) is often associated with razor-thin margins, diversified, regionally marketed grains and legumes often tell a different story.
Dry beans, lentils, chickpeas, heritage grains, and food-grade corn or wheat are increasingly sought after by consumers, local mills, bakeries, and breweries. Legumes deserve a special nod, as crops like dry beans and peas not only generate income but also fix nitrogen, which then reduces fertilizer needs and dependencies for subsequent crops. A true win-win.
Reginally Marketed Legumes and Grains
Dry beans
Lentils
Chickpeas
Heritage grains
Food-grade corn
Wheat
For farms with larger acreage and/or higher levels of mechanization, grains and legumes can provide steady, dependable income at lower labor costs than vegetables, while still supporting soil health.
Herbs and Specialty Crops: Small Area, High Value
Basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, chamomile, and calendula, some of the best-known culinary and medicinal herbs, offer substantial returns per square foot. Many can be grown intensively, harvested multiple times, and sold fresh, dried, or processed. The flexibility is unique and beneficial on many fronts.
Speciality Crops
Basil
Thyme
Rosemary
Oregano
Chamomile
Calendula
Lavender
Mushrooms
Cut flowers
Medicinal herbs
Specialty crops like mushrooms, cut flowers, and niche medicinal plants also fall under this umbrella. Although these markets can sometimes be smaller, prices are often higher, and competition is lower. The sustainability advantage here lies in efficiency. Herbs and specialty crops can typically be integrated into diversified systems, require less land, and often appeal to customers who value quality over volume.
For farms willing to build relationships with chefs, herbalists, or sell directly to consumers, specialty crops can be powerful drivers of income. Success in this case depends on conducting thorough market research in advance and producing a consistent crop going forward.
Forage Crops: The Foundation of a Livestock System
For farms that include livestock or sell to farms or ranches with livestock, forage crops (clover, alfalfa, grasses, and mixed pasture blends) are indispensable. Although not always sold directly, forage crops reduce feed costs and improve animal health, and as such, contribute to a farm's profitability.
Forage crop for livestock
Grasses (White clover, fescue, brome, ryegrass)
Hay (Alfalfa, Timmothy)
Silage/Baleage (Maize or sorghum)
Brassicas like fodder turnips and kale
From the standpoint of sustainability, perennial forage crops improve water infiltration into the soil, increase soil sequestration, and protect the soil. Additionally, rotational grazing systems built on a diverse mix of forage crops are among the most regenerative models in agriculture.
Even crop-only farms can benefit from rotating in an occasional forage crop on occasion, as they improve the structure of the soil and help to break pest cycles while opening opportunities for custom grazing or sales of hay.
Building A Sustainable Livelihood And Not Just a Crop Plan
A sustainable farm livelihood isn’t built in a single season. It evolves over time through experimentation, observation, and adaptation. Many of the most resilient farms today combine several of the crop types above, spreading risk while developing multiple income streams.
Healthy soil, healthy food, and healthy finances are deeply connected. When crops are chosen with all three in mind, sustainability stops being a slogan and starts becoming a practical, achievable way of farming.
Matching Your Crops to the Reality on Your Farm
No list of “best crops” is universal and absolute. Climate, soil type, water availability, labor capacity, and local markets all matter. A profitable crop in one region may struggle in another.
And so we have to keep in mind that successful farmers regularly ask:
Who will buy this, and at what price?
What inputs does this crop truly require?
How does it fit into my rotation and workload?
Does it improve or deplete my land over time?
Sustainability is less about choosing the “right” crop and more about choosing crops that work together within a thoughtful, symbiotic system.
Joshua, his wife Jenn, and their dog Rooster live in PA. Joshua is the owner and operator of Hoffman Appalachian Farm, where they grow Certified Naturally Grown hops. Joshua has over twelve years of experience in growing crops, including growing in an organic system. In his spare time, he enjoys trail running, backpacking, and cycling.